QUOTE(FirefoxRocks @ Sep 25 2007, 03:29 AM)

Ok I have DHCP enabled and my ISP says that I can't force an IP address in my system's network configuration.
I know that Java chat rooms are incompatible with proxy servers as instead of connecting to the actual site, they will connect to the proxy server, which obviously doesn't have the file.
OK, in your home network, usually, you have an ADSL modem or an ADSL switch or router.
Your PC, connected to the modem, has a private network address, usually something like 192.168.1.2
Your PC reaches the external world through a worldwide unique official IP address, something like 216.240.134.213.
This address is affected to you by your ISP.
Sometimes this address is fixed, sometimes it's given to you for a given period of time (typically 7 days). For instance, some ISP's give you a fixed address for free, some others change your IP address every week and ask you extra money if you want a fixed IP address.
This fixed IP is related to your physical position for accountings and maintenance purposes (in case of trouble they need to know on which phone line there is a problem, or where is the house which is not reachable). That's why they don't want to change these date, if they change something in your accounting data they need to inform absolutely everybody : the customer service people in case you call the hot line for declaring a problem, the phone company in order to tell them there is an internet connexion on this line and care should be given when unscrewing the cables, etc...
Thant's why you can use a fixed IP address if you want, but this fixed address is on your own network and is not visible from elsewhere.
The proxy is the device between you and the internet, it helps saying where you are and where to send the internet packets. So, the role of the proxy is essential. That's why the most simple thing is, when you install your PC, to install it as a DHCP client of your DHCP server (your router), which will provide all the necessary infos, like name-to-IP translations.
There is nothing really incompatible with a proxy server. Simply, some proxy servers are protected by firewalls. And some addresses are on the blacklist, by default, because they are known to be dangerous.
If you want to access a precise given Java chatroom and you cannot, first verify that your own PC has no problem (my Mc Afee advisor on my own PC doesn't like some sites and prevents myself from surfing on some sites) ; then ask your ISP to unlock the precise forum where you cannot go, they will be able to check why you cannot go to www.yorblog.something.
And, of course, trying to cheat on IP addresses is sometimes dangerous and sometimes stupid. Have a look at the IP address I just gave you some lines above the present one, suppose that you were able to configure this address on your PC, this IP address is the one of another computer somewhere on the world : your computer would be able to send queries to a website, and the answer would be shipped to the other computer, which would simply reject them as "this is not for me,sorry".
Hope this helped.
Yordan
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